Have you followed the Historic Standards & Guidelines or gone through the approval process for a project? We’re looking for feedback to make the guidelines and process easier to understand and apply.

OVERVIEW

The City of Kalamazoo is in the process of updating the Standards and Guidelines for Local Historic Districts. Historic preservation guidelines are intended to provide residents with guidelines for work which would affect the exteriors of buildings in Kalamazoo’s historic districts. Through this process the City will review the existing design guidelines to determine what works and what could use improvement in maintaining the historic character of Kalamazoo.

PROJECT MANAGER:

Luis Peña, Historic Preservation Coordinator, Penal@kalamazoocity.org

OBJECTIVES

  • Update the Historic District Standards and Guidelines by the end of 2023

  • Create a new document that is accessible, informational, and comprehensive

  • Allow for more contemporary technology to be used in alignment with historic preservation

SCHEDULE:

Check back for specific meeting dates and draft document releases.

February 2023

  • 2/13 – Public input session Central Branch Public Library from 6-7 PM. What Works, What doesn’t work with existing standards and guidelines.

  • 2/20 – Open online survey (Survey 1) using input from 2/13 session to guide creation of questions

April 2023

  • Historic District Newsletter mailed out, detailing progress

  • Release first draft of updated plan

May 2023

  • Neighborhood level engagement to gather feedback on the first draft     

    • Stuart: Tuesday, May 9, 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Station #5 Community Center (619 Douglas Avenue)

    • West Main Hill: Wednesday, May 17, 7:30 pm – 9 pm at Kalamazoo College in the Olmsted Room in Mandelle Hall

    • Vine: Saturday, May 20, 12 - 4 pm at the Vine Neighborhood Association (806 S Westnedge Avenue) – This meeting will be part of the Vine Annual Meeting.

June 2023

  • Updates posted on Imagine Kalamazoo Website

July 2023

  • Review of revised Standards and Guidelines at Historic Preservation Commission

August 2023

  • Updates on Imagine Kalamazoo website

September 2023

  • Updates on Imagine Kalamazoo website

  • Formatted draft posted on Imagine Kalamazoo website.

October 2023

  • Bring revised draft to the Planning Commission for review

November 2023

  • Bring revised standards and guidelines to City Commission

PARTNERSHIPS

N/A

STAFFING

Community Planning & Economic Development, City Attorney Office

OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS

N/A

CONSISTENT WITH PLANS

Strategic Vision, Master Plan, Public Participation Plan, Neighborhood Plans

VISION

To create Historic Standards and Guidelines that align with the Vision of Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 while providing guidance on historic character.

STRATEGIC VISION GOALS

Complete Neighborhoods, Environmental Responsibility, Good Governance

METRICS

Updated Historic District Standards and Guidelines; Fewer questions about how to use the standards and guidelines from the public.